Need help finding more information about these old tool boxes and tools

ukcats214 · Feb 28, 2017

I have several tool boxes and some old tools that I would like to find out how old they are. I know that these were used by my father that worked for Rockwell/NASA and he used these gray ones on site. I found some old paperwork with a launch schedule for shuttle and specs for the shuttle with the earliest date being 8/76. The tool cart has a name that starts with an "s" but I have no idea what company even made it. I know that the small KennedyKits box used to sit on top of the cart because it has the shuttle sticker and name plate on it.

The red craftsman I would like to find out how old it is. I could not find a model number anywhere is there anyone that might know anything about it?

Any help would be great!!

Rileysan · Feb 28, 2017

ukcats214 said:
I have several tool boxes and some old tools that I would like to find out how old they are. I know that these were used by my father that worked for Rockwell/NASA and he used these gray ones on site. I found some old paperwork with a launch schedule for shuttle and specs for the shuttle with the earliest date being 8/76. The tool cart has a name that starts with an "s" but I have no idea what company even made it. I know that the small KennedyKits box used to sit on top of the cart because it has the shuttle sticker and name plate on it.

The red craftsman I would like to find out how old it is. I could not find a model number anywhere is there anyone that might know anything about it?

Any help would be great!!

The Craftsman box is from 1975 through 198? based on the style of the Craftsman logo. I'm not sure where the manufacture date is located.

The rolling cabinet the starts with the letter 'S' is awesome. Can you take a few more photos?

Brian

Private Lugnutz · Feb 28, 2017

ukcats214 said:
The tool cart has a name that starts with an "s" but I have no idea what company even made it...

Simonsen. They made tool boxes in all shapes and sizes. But I have never seen a Tool Caddy from them before. That thing is freakin' awesome!

Evil-punkin · Feb 28, 2017

The "tool caddy" tool cart was made by Simonsen, I tried to do some research and only found one or two of your actual cart on the web but I'm sure if you did some more digging you could find some more info on it. They made a lot of smaller tackle boxes and cantilever type toolboxes and also made some boxes for the military. I'll add a pic of their logo just so you'll know what it looks like. You've definitely got some keepers there, lots of memories and sentimental value in them I'm sure!

FJ 432 · Feb 28, 2017

"S" is for Simonsen.

1960's I would say. My favorite is the Kennedy for sentimental reasons...my dad had that same box. He worked on a flight line here in Denver and his box was also the same government gray.

Evil-punkin · Feb 28, 2017

Looks like "Lugnutz" beat me to it! haha Definitely some cool old boxes though for sure! I'm pretty sure I could find a spot for them in my shop!

Private Lugnutz · Feb 28, 2017

I really like the doors! Recessed shelves one one side, peg board on the other!

jakemac · Feb 28, 2017

The date for that Craftsman box should be located on the bottom front rail, approximately 7" in from the right hand corner. It will read "MADE IN USA" over a 4-digit date that reads as "**-**". The first two numbers are the month, the last two numbers are the year.

The stamp may be really faint, you may need a magnifying glass and a flashlight shining at odd angles to read it.

That tool caddy is super cool ! Nice.

bluebolt · Feb 28, 2017

The Simonsen is way cool!

It's probably 1956 to 1959 since it is "Patent Pending" and the patent US 2893749 was filed 25 October 1956 and granted 7 July 1959. Also the two digit postal code "51" would have narrowed it down to 1943ish to 1963ish anyways.

https://www.google.ch/patents/US289...ved=0ahUKEwiPtqv83LPSAhUjHGMKHQxAAYQQ6wEIHTAA

Farmall 1066 · Feb 28, 2017

Saw a Simonsen Tool cart identical to that one, and I'd say about equal condition sell at auction last fall. That one had a small US Govt Property tag on it, so I wonder if they weren't the main market for them.
I bid it up around $100. Think it sold for around $300.

555 · Feb 28, 2017

My Uncle worked for North American/Rockwell in California. He had the same style Simonsen cart in his garage. Until you posted, it was the only one I had seen. He told me his plant put them in surplus and he bought it for $10 in the 60s. Sadly, the cart and most of his tools disappeared from his garage when he was in his 80s.

Garage&Beer · Feb 28, 2017

Wow...another one to watch out for. Like that simonsen alot.

ukcats214 · Mar 10, 2017

Not to sound like an idiot but I are you talking about the handle for the bottom drawer? I have looked all over the handles and can't find anything, but I don't know if I am looking in the right spot.

ukcats214 · Mar 10, 2017

My dad worked at Cape Canaveral and then transferred to California when they started landing the Space Shuttle in California in the early 80s.

jakemac · Mar 10, 2017

ukcats214 said:
Not to sound like an idiot but I are you talking about the handle for the bottom drawer? I have looked all over the handles and can't find anything, but I don't know if I am looking in the right spot.

If you're asking about my post on the date of the red box, then no, you won't find a date on any of the handles.

The front bottom rail is the last part of the front of the box caseing you see just before your head hits the floor.

ukcats214 · Mar 10, 2017

Everyone has been so helpful with the other pictures can you help me with these? On the tool one side says "PROTO" and the other side "MED LOS ANGELES USA" The other one says "PL right triangle with a point facing down MB and on the other side it has "MADE IN USA"

jakemac · Mar 10, 2017

Pl[V]mb had to change its name to Proto because of a lawsuit filed by Plumb. I don't remember when, but it was mid-century. I'm sure someone with better knowledge will come along and fill in the black.

Those wrenches may have been bought during the time of the name change.

Teenager with old tools · Mar 10, 2017

Those wrenches are during the name change. I have couple tools like that

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ukcats214 · Mar 13, 2017

jakemac said:
If you're asking about my post on the date of the red box, then no, you won't find a date on any of the handles.

The front bottom rail is the last part of the front of the box caseing you see just before your head hits the floor.

Thank you so much!! I don't know how I missed this, except that I hadn't put my head on the floor yet...LOL! W 5 80

jakemac · Mar 13, 2017

Not sure what the W5 signifies, May would be 05. The 80 is definitely 1980.
So, perhaps the box was built in May of 1980 and the W might be a production run, line, or facility.

bluebolt · Mar 13, 2017

jakemac said:
Not sure what the W5 signifies, May would be 05. The 80 is definitely 1980.
So, perhaps the box was built in May of 1980 and the W might be a production run, line, or facility.

W for Waterloo?

jakemac · Mar 13, 2017

I doubt it, this is the first time I've heard of it being used in the date code. Waterloo has been making Cman boxes for over half a century, you'd think they wouldn't need to stamp it when the supplier is the first three digits of the model number. Either it was mis-read, or something else is going on.

ukcats214 · Mar 14, 2017

Here is a picture of what I was looking at.

BFBOB · Mar 14, 2017

Short version: Plumb, the well known ax&hammer maker sued Plumb the upstart mechanic tool maker for trademark infringement. Axmaker won, mech tool maker changed name to Plomb, with a stylized triangular "o". Plumb sued again, said it was too close, won again, Plomb changed name to Proto.
Many more details available if you look around a bit. Alloy-Artifacts.com is a tremendous asset.

WagonHo! · May 15, 2023

Looks familiar

dld5537 · Nov 5, 2023

I just found one of these on the side of the road. In the process of restoring it

dld5537 · Nov 5, 2023

bluebolt said:
The Simonsen is way cool!

It's probably 1956 to 1959 since it is "Patent Pending" and the patent US 2893749 was filed 25 October 1956 and granted 7 July 1959. Also the two digit postal code "51" would have narrowed it down to 1943ish to 1963ish anyways.

https://www.google.ch/patents/US2893749?dq=inassignee:"Simonsen+Metal+Products+Compan"&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPtqv83LPSAhUjHGMKHQxAAYQQ6wEIHTAA

This is the best info I've found yet. I found one on the side of the road a few weeks ago

Need help finding more information about these old tool boxes and tools

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